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reflectorParabolic

Create parabolic reflector antenna

Since R2018b

Description

The reflectorParabolic object creates a parabolic reflector antenna. Parabolic reflector antennas are electrically large structures and are at least 10 wavelengths in diameter. These reflectors are used in TV antennas and satellite communications, for example.

Creation

Description

example

ant = reflectorParabolic creates a dipole-fed parabolic reflector antenna. The default antenna exciter operates at 10 GHz. The reflector is 10λ in diameter, where λ corresponds to the value of wavelength.

ant = reflectorParabolic(Name=Value) creates a parabolic reflector antenna, with additional Properties specified by one or more name–value arguments. Name is the property name and Value is the corresponding value. You can specify several name-value arguments in any order as Name1= Value1, ..., NameN=ValueN. Properties not specified retain their default values.

For example, ant = reflectorParabolic(FocalLength=0.5) creates a parabolic reflector antenna with 0.5 meters focal length.

Properties

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Exciter antenna or array type, specified as a single-element antenna object, an array object, measured pattern data of an antenna, or an empty array. Except for reflector and cavity antenna elements, you can use any Antenna Toolbox™ antenna or array element as an exciter. To create the cavity backing structure without the exciter, specify this property as an empty array.

Example: horn

Example: linearArray(Element=patchMicrostrip)

Example: measuredAntenna

Example: []

Radius of the parabolic reflector, specified as a positive scalar in meters.

Example: 0.22

Data Types: double

Focal length of the parabolic reflector, specified as a positive scalar in meters.

Example: 0.0850

Data Types: double

Signed distance from the focus of the parabolic reflector, specified as a three-element vector in meters. By default, the antenna exciter is at the focus of the parabola. Using the FeedOffset property, you can place the exciter anywhere on the parabola.

Example: [0.0850 0 0]

Data Types: double

Type of the metal used as a conductor, specified as a metal material object. You can choose any metal from the MetalCatalog or specify a metal of your choice. For more information, see metal. For more information on metal conductor meshing, see Meshing.

Example: metal("Copper")

Lumped elements added to the antenna feed, specified as a lumped element object. For more information, see lumpedElement.

Example: Load=lumpedelement. lumpedelement is the object for the load created using lumpedElement.

Example: lumpedElement(Impedance=75)

Tilt angle of the antenna, specified as a scalar or vector with each element unit in degrees. For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: Tilt=90

Example: Tilt=[90 90],TiltAxis=[0 1 0;0 1 1] tilts the antenna at 90 degrees about the two axes defined by the vectors.

Note

The wireStack antenna object only accepts the dot method to change its properties.

Data Types: double

Tilt axis of the antenna, specified as:

  • Three-element vector of Cartesian coordinates in meters. In this case, each coordinate in the vector starts at the origin and lies along the specified points on the X-, Y-, and Z-axes.

  • Two points in space, each specified as three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates. In this case, the antenna rotates around the line joining the two points in space.

  • A string input describing simple rotations around one of the principal axes, 'X', 'Y', or 'Z'.

For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: TiltAxis=[0 1 0]

Example: TiltAxis=[0 0 0;0 1 0]

Example: TiltAxis = 'Z'

Data Types: double

Solver for antenna analysis, specified as a string. Default solver is "MoM-PO"(Method of Moments-Physical Optics hybrid). Other supported solvers are: "MoM" (Method of Moments), "PO" (Physical optics) or "FMM" (Fast Multipole Method).

Example: SolverType="MoM"

Data Types: string

Object Functions

showDisplay antenna, array structures or shapes
solverAccess FMM solver for electromagnetic analysis
axialRatioAxial ratio of antenna
beamwidthBeamwidth of antenna
chargeCharge distribution on antenna or array surface
currentCurrent distribution on antenna or array surface
designDesign prototype antenna or arrays for resonance around specified frequency
efficiencyRadiation efficiency of antenna
EHfieldsElectric and magnetic fields of antennas; Embedded electric and magnetic fields of antenna element in arrays
impedanceInput impedance of antenna; scan impedance of array
meshMesh properties of metal, dielectric antenna, or array structure
meshconfigChange mesh mode of antenna structure
optimizeOptimize antenna or array using SADEA optimizer
patternRadiation pattern and phase of antenna or array; Embedded pattern of antenna element in array
patternAzimuthAzimuth pattern of antenna or array
patternElevationElevation pattern of antenna or array
rcsCalculate and plot radar cross section (RCS) of platform, antenna, or array
returnLossReturn loss of antenna; scan return loss of array
sparametersCalculate S-parameter for antenna and antenna array objects
vswrVoltage standing wave ratio of antenna

Examples

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Create and view a default parabolic reflector antenna.

ant = reflectorParabolic
ant = 
  reflectorParabolic with properties:

        Exciter: [1x1 dipole]
         Radius: 0.1500
    FocalLength: 0.0750
     FeedOffset: [0 0 0]
           Tilt: 0
       TiltAxis: [1 0 0]
           Load: [1x1 lumpedElement]
     SolverType: 'MoM-PO'

show(ant)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title reflectorParabolic antenna element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 5 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

Plot the radiation pattern of the parabolic reflector at 10 GHz.

pattern(ant,10e9)

Figure contains an axes object and other objects of type uicontrol. The axes object contains 5 objects of type patch, surface.

Create a circular array of equiangular spiral antennas.

circA = circularArray(Element=spiralEquiangular,Radius=0.1);

Create a parabolic reflector-backed antenna.

ant = reflectorParabolic(Exciter=circA)
ant = 
  reflectorParabolic with properties:

        Exciter: [1x1 circularArray]
         Radius: 0.1500
    FocalLength: 0.0750
     FeedOffset: [0 0 0]
           Tilt: 0
       TiltAxis: [1 0 0]
           Load: [1x1 lumpedElement]
     SolverType: 'MoM-PO'

show(ant)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title reflectorParabolic antenna element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 15 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

Version History

Introduced in R2018b